Hughes OH-6A N10436
13 June 1992 · Sunland Park, New Mexico, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 13 June 1992 at about 19:06 local time, a Hughes OH-6A registered N10436, operated by U. S. Border Patrol, was involved in an accident near Sunland Park, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:06
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sunland Park, New Mexico, United States
- Coordinates
- 31.7892, -106.5702
- Aircraft
- Hughes OH-6A
- Registration
- N10436
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- U. S. Border Patrol
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- El Paso → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW92GA157
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE WIRES.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FLOWN ON A U. S. BORDER PATROL SURVEILLANCE MISSION WHEN IT STRUCK TWO STATIC LINES OF A POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. THE 125 FOOT HIGH LINES WERE STRUNG ACROSS A DRAW AND SUPPORTED BY TOWERS LOCATED ON MOUNTAINS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DRAW. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WIRE STRIKE PROTECTION SYSTEM AND EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT ONE OF THE STATIC LINES WAS ENGAGED AND CUT BY THE UPPER CUTTER. HOWEVER, THE EVIDENCE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE SECOND STATIC LINE STRUCK THREE OF THE FOUR BLADES OF THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE BLADES SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED THE HUB AND THE MAIN TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Hughes OH-6A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 1992 | Hughes OH-6A (BP) | Marfa, Texas, United States | U.s Immigration Service | Unknown | - |
| 19 Sep 1993 | Hughes OH-6A | San Diego, California, United States | INS, U.s. Border Patrol | Unknown | - |
| 31 Jul 1994 | Hughes OH-6A | Duchesne, Utah, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Jun 1994 | Hughes OH-6A | Valentine, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 1995 | Hughes OH-6A | Imperial, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1997 | Hughes OH-6A | Marfa, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jan 1992 | Cessna 172N | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Thomas Kuehn | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft A36 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Loren Kula, ET al | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 1992 | Bellanca 17-30A | Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States | TIM L. Alton | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 1992 | Thorpe T-18 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Gordon Hall | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1992 | Raven S-60A | Pecos, New Mexico, United States | Bond, Wayne & Chapel, Sally P. | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1992 | Cessna 172F | Folsom, New Mexico, United States | Sheppard AFB Aero Club | No injuries | - |